The Best Red Lip Makeup for Your Skin Tone

Which red is right? We're here to help you navigate this hot lip makeup trend with ease

Red: The color of passion, the color of love. It's probably the sexiest color around and when painted on your lips, it's dynamite. Like with all lip makeup colors, certain shades of red look better on some skin tones than others. Because of this semi-frustrating fact, we are constantly asked by readers to help them find the best red for them.

To shed light on which shade of red lipstick complements your unique skin tone, we, of course, consulted an expert. We showed Raychel Wade, NYC makeup artist, La Prairie Colour Ambassador and founder of Cheek to Chic a slew of celebs in red lipstick shades to decipher which shades really, truly compliment which skin tones the best and ten celebs made the cut.

Now we're here to share the application tips and product suggestions she recommends for the red lipstick or gloss you should try in order to copy this timeless makeup look that happens to be the hot celebrity makeup trend of the moment.

Before finding your ideal shade of red lip color, check out these quick tips for making your application of this semi-tricky shade to last:
1. First, wipe off any lip balm or moisture on your lips as this will keep the lipstick from sticking.
2. Try using a clear (or reverse) lip liner like CARGO The Reverse Lipliner, $14 to line and fill in your lips. This will help the red color last longer when applied on top.
3. For a precise look, use a lip brush to carefully apply your red lipstick to your lips. Or, if you want more of a stained look, use a fingertip to apply.
4. After you have applied a strong lip shade, "dip a clean lip blush in a little concealer and gently trace the outside of your lips to ensure a clean, sharp line," says Wade.

Coincidentally, I bought my first red lipstick yesterday -- CoverGirl LipPerfection in Hot, which I selected using the colormatch utility on their website. I'm closest to Kate Bosworth in complexion and am encouraged that what I bought is basically the same shade as what she's shown wearing. The tips on how to best apply red lipstick are helpful too.

I love the brick lip color on Sandra Oh. I have a tough time finding a red that suits my olive skin so I've been sticking to lighter textured colored lip balms and glosses. But this article lightens up the seriousness of a red lipstick and makes it seem more doable for gals like me. Will definitely be on the lookout for a new red lipstick for the fall/winter season!